Кентукки Таулық Библия Колледжінің тарихы мен дамуы

Kentucky Mountain Bible College (KMBC) is a private Holiness bible college in Vancleve, Kentucky. It is a ministry of the Kentucky Mountain Holiness Association. The college claims that over 70% of its graduates have entered Christian ministry, including speakers, missionaries, and pastors in over 60 countries worldwide.

Kentucky Mountain Bible College was initially established by Dr. Lela G. McConnell and Rev. Martha Archer in 1931 as an offshoot of the nearby Mount Carmel High School. Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Pelfrey donated the land, which had been at one time used by a defunct coal mining company as a commissary, approximately three miles from the present site. Because of the "young people with the call of God upon them" who "felt the need of further training beyond the high school work in order to fit them better for missionary work", including several KMBI students and faculty. The effort to recover and bury bodies lasted for weeks, with one student being found 50 miles downstream. This was the first flood on record that had come rushing down the river, as the other floods had been backups which were mostly still water. Both of KMBI's buildings, the old commissary and the dormitory, were destroyed. Of the buildings' sixteen occupants, nine drowned. These included staff member Mr. Horace Myers, his three children Titus, Philip, and Lela Grace, students Elsie Booth and Christine Holman, and three guests of the Myers. Mrs. Myers alone survived her family.

On 20 October 1939, three and a half months after the flood, the school re opened at a new site donated by Mr. and Mrs. Fred Fletcher, and his sister, Laura. Located on a hill and above the flood plain, the new three acre campus featured only a half finished building with 18 students when it opened. This building was developed into the modern Administration building and girls' dorm. Growth and building continued at a feverish pace, starting with the Myers Chapel in 1940, named for the drowned teacher who had given of himself to KMBI. Swauger Hall was constructed right before Brengle Hall, and by 1945, the campus was well developed.

Archer Auditorium was begun in the summer of 1961 and was ready for graduation classes for 1962.

In 1989 Candidate Status was granted for institutional accreditation with the Accrediting Association of Bible Colleges (now Association for Biblical Higher Education). In 1994, KMBC was granted membership with AABC.

With the recognition as an accredited school by the AABC, KMBC began offering a four year B. A. Degree in Religion along with a two year A. A. Degree in Bible/Biblical Studies. Several facilities including the Davis Memorial Building, which serves as a library, the renovation of the basement in Brengle Hall, the addition of the Coffeehouse underneath Swauger, and the new Helen Matthews Luce Chapel. The current President, Dr. Robert D. Pocai, Ed. D., became president in 2022. In 2003, the college objected to a phone number it had been assigned with the prefix 666, which is associated in Christian tradition with Satan. The local phone company changed the prefix to another newly available exchange. The college was granted an exception to Title IX in 2017 which allows it to legally discriminate against LGBT students for religious reasons. All faculty and staff must yearly affirm that they will avoid the homosexual lifestyle.

KMBC offers two degrees: an associate degree in Biblical Studies and a bachelor's degree in Religion.

The campus of Kentucky Mountain Bible College is located on a hilltop off of Kentucky route 541 in Vancleve, KY. There have been numerous additions in recent years, the most recent of which is the Helen Matthews Luce Chapel & Fine Arts Building.

The Gibson Library is housed in the Davis Memorial Building. It has over 30,000 items including books, CDs, DVDs, videos, sheet music, song flashcards, and Sunday school supplies.

Recreation in the area includes hiking, rock climbing, canoeing, and other outdoor activities. A student led social committee organizes social events throughout the school year. Chapel takes place at Kentucky Mountain Bible College three times per week (Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday). Student chapel attendance is expected. In addition to chapel, undergraduate students are required to choose a local church to attend every Sunday. Voluntary group personal discipleship and private mentoring is available to all students.